Napoli Closing In On Loan Move For Liverpool Midfield Star

Napoli are closing in on a loan move for Liverpool midfielder Lucas, who could be on his way to join former Reds manager Rafael Benitez in Italy.

Reports on Goal.com claim that the two clubs have reached an agreement over the move, which will also involve a permanent transfer clause that would be triggered once the player has played a certain number of games.

The Italian club are keen to lower the potential transfer fee, with Liverpool understood to want £10 million for the 27-year-old Brazilian – who has been left on the fringes at Anfield following the arrival of Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen.

Lucas made 20 Premier League starts last season, often battling for the midfield slot alongside captain Steven Gerrard, with Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen. And following the £10m arrival of the 20-year-old German Can, he could find his first-team opportunities reduced even further.

Benitez signed Lucas from Gremio in 2007, and the holding player has gone on to make 243 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring six goals.

He has made 24 appearances for his country to date, but failed to claim a spot in Brazil’s 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, and may need to move in order to boost his prospects of gaining further international caps.

Liverpool have also completed the signings of Southampton pair Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana, as well as former Benfica winger Lazar Markovic so far this summer, and are believed to be close to sealing a deal for QPR striker Loic Remy.